Rule for cutting roof-rafters



W. A. WINN.

RULE FOR CUTTING ROOF RAFTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1919.

1,343,64. Patented June 15, 1920E 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. A. WINN.

RULE FoR CUTTING ROOF RAFTERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, 1919. 1,343,604. Patented June 15, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2.

3&2 .1.2

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

RULE FOR CUTTING ROOF-RAFTERS.

To @ZZ fio/mm t may concern.:

Be it known that I, WARNER A. VINN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clarksville, in the county of Montgomery and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rulesfor Cutting- Roof-Rafters, of which the fol lowing is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings. t

This invention relates to rules, and particularly to instruments of thisclass designed for the purpose of marking the cuts to be used on therafters of roof frames.

ln the construction of ordinary roofs there are common rafters, jackrafters, hip and valley rafters, and cripple rafters, andtheseraftershave to be cut'so as to fit at the base against the plateand against the ridge. Each rafter, therefore, has to be formed with atop cut and a bottom cut or heel out. Certain of the rafters, as forinstance, the jack, hip, valley and cripple rafters, in addition tobeing angularly cut at their ends, must be beveled properly so as to fitagainst the ridge raftei" and against the other rafters with which theyare used.

llleietofore, these cuts have been usually marked by means of steelsquares or'like instruments which Vare formed on their two arms with aplurality of rows of graduations.l a different row of graduations beingused for each cut to be made, and considerable calculation is necessaryin order to use these steel squares and make the proper cuts. Not onlythis, but it is an easy matter for a person using the steel square tomake a mistake unless great care is used. Steel s uares can only be usedby those expert in their use.

lThe general object of my invention is to provide an instrument whichmay be adj usted without dilflculty in accordance with a very simpleseries of graduations and which. when` adjusted, will provide formarking the top and bottom cuts of common rafters, the top and bottomcuts of jack rafters, and the bevel for the face thereof where the jackrafter isi-joined tothe hip rafters. And it may also be used for markingthe proper angle of the top cut and the proper double bevel for hip andvalley rafters, and for cripple rafters without readjustinent, theinstrument being so construeted that when 'it is set it may be usedwithout i'eadjustment for all Aof the rafters of a plain roof.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Juil@ 15, 1920.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1919.

Serial No. 304,175.

l A further object is to provide a construction of this'kind which maybe easily ad- )usted for roofs of any desired pitch.

And another Objectis to provide an instrument of this kind which may bealso adjusted for roofs where the pitch of one side of the roof isdilferent from the pitch on the other side of the roof.

Still another object is to provide a device of this character whereinone of the rules may be angularly adjusted to any desired relation tothe main frame of the rule so as to mark off any desired angle-on aboard` or plank.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein r-Figure l is a face view of an instrument constructed in accordance withmy invention;

F 2 is a side elevation thereof:

F ig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.l l; l

Fig tis a section through one leg of the pivoted square, showing themanner of attaching the arc thereof; f i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the are showing the means forclamping it in adjusted positions;

F 1g. 6 is a section on the ,line 6 6 of Fig. 5; l

Fig. 7 is a side "elevation of the instru ment applied to marking an endcut for a rafter; and Y Fig. 8 is a face view of the instrument shown inFig. 7 showing the manner in which the bevel for a jack rafter ismarked.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and i2, it will be seen' that myinstrument comprises a `rectangular frame. I do not wish to be limitedto the particular construction of this frame, but as illustrated, itcomprises two transversely extending end bars l0 and two pairs of'longitudinally extending strips or bars il, each of which is angular inform to provide a flange l2. The flanges l2l extend in oppositedirections. These angular strips ll are spaced from each other bv thetransverse strips or bars l0 which are disposed between the angularstrips. These strips ll and l2. at the corners of theV frame are heldtogether by means of wing nuts and bolts 13. Y

Movable longitudinally of the main frame Yis a sliding frame formed by apair of parallel cross bars 14 and 15, rigidly connected by longitudinalstrips 16, which strips 16 are folded longitudinally so as to embraceone of the strips or bars '11, as illustrated in Fig. 3. These frame`members 16 are longitudinally slotted, as at 17, y(see Fig.,1) for thepassage of boltsV 18 carrying clamping Wing nuts. By loosening the nutsand bolts 18, the frame formed of the members 14, 15 and 16 may belongitudinally shifted along the main frame and then adjusted and heldin their adjusted positions.

Pivotally mounted upon the cross bar 14 is a square, that is a rightangular member .composed of tivo legs 19 and 20, the leg 19 beingpreferably longer than the leg 20.

The 1eg20 is provided at its upper end With an aperture for the passageof the cross bar 14, which is round in cross section, and suitablemeans, as for instance collars 14a, are provided for holding this squarein a middle position onthe cross bar 14. The legs 19 and 2() are hingedto each other by a hinge 21sol that they maybe folded into parallelrelation, but in use these legs 19 and 2O are always disposed in rightangular relation and held therein by an arcuate bar 22. This bar at itsends is angularly bent, as at`23, and as illustrated in F ig. 4, thisangularly bent foot 23 is held clamped against the inner faces of thearms by means of a bolt `24 and Wing nut 25. The foot 23 is alsoprovided With a pin 26 which enters a perforation in the face of themember 19 Y or 2O so as to hold this, arcuate cross bar 22 in the sameplane with the tivo legs 19 and 20. It Will be `seen from `Fig?) thatthe legs 19 and v2O have lateral ianges 2?, and from Fig. 4 that thenuts 25 are entirely disposed Within the channels Vformed by theseflanges. The arcuate cross bar 22, as shown in Fig. 3, is longitudinallyslotted, as at 28, and for the purpose of adjusting the square andholding it in its adjusted position, l provide clamping means onVtherarc 22 which enga es the arc with the cross bar 15.

i s illustratedV Vin Fig. 5, l provide a Washer 29 having a head whichis rectangular in cross section and nts within the slot 28, and passingthrough this Washer is an eye-bolt 30 having an eye, as illustrated inFig. 6, through which the transverse rod 15 passes, and this boltcarrying a nut 31. The Washer 29, as shown in Fig. 6, has an opening forthe passage of the bolt, this opening being liared toward the rod 15. By

this means it is obvious that the arc 22 may at that end of the mainframe adjacent the cross rod 14, is a pair of blades constituting rules,designated 32. Eachof these blades is longitudinally slotted, as at 33,for the passage of bolt 13, and When the Wing nut on this bolt isclamped down, it Will be obvious that the corresponding rule 32 Will beheld from movement. It Will alsobe seen that these rules Aor blades maybe shifted longitudinally or rotated with respect to the bolt upon Whichthey are mounted. Preferably, onel or both of the blades is slidinglymounted upon a rectangular block 34, through which thebolt 13passes,this block being rotatable upon the bolt and the` rule being 'shiftablealong this block. Freferablyk also, this block carries uponit a circulardial 35 havin-g graduations upon its perimeter, coacting With'an .indexmark 36 von the` frame. This dial is graduated in degrees, and by thismeans the angle of the corresponding blade with the longitudinal a-Xisof the main frame Will be indicated. The inner ends of the blades 32 arebeveled, as at 37:, and the pointed ends of these blades are ,adapted tobe disposed against the extreme edges or corners of the channelshapedleg 20, as shown mostclearly in Fig. 1. f Y

ln the use of this device, it will be obvious that the sliding frameformed of the parts 14,15 and 16 and carrying the square formed of the.legs 19 and 20 and the arc 22, may be longitudinally shifted upon themain frame, and that if `the square-carrying frame is shifted away fromthat end of the main frame upon which the blades -32 are mounted, thebla-des have to be shifted to a more acute angle ifn order to engagewith the legs -22 than if thesquare supporting frame is shifted towardthat end of the main frame supporting these rules or blades 32. It willlikewise be seen thatthe legs 19 and 2O are valways `disposed at rightangles to each other, but that theymay be shifted into varying relationswith the plane of the main frame by turning this square, composed ofthelegs 19 and 20, upon the pivot 110 formed by the cross rod 14.

AAAs illustrated in Fig. 3, the arc has on one longitudinal edge a scaleA having thereon subdivisions indicating linch rise to foot run. Thisvscale A is for the purpose of 115 adfjusting'the square to indicate thetop and vbottom cuts of common rafters, jack rafters and cripplerafters. On the opposite edge of the arc there is disposed a scale Cwhich is also marked `olf by subdivisions 120 indicating inch rise tofoot run, and this scale C is to be used'for marking the bottom and topcuts for lhip and valley rafters. On face of the main frame, `asillustrated in Fig. v1, there is disposed a scale B having`l25subdivisions from 2 to '24 indicating inch rise to foot run, this scalebeing for the pur pose of adjusting vthe sliding frame in the main frameso as to give the proper angles to the rule blades 32 to indicate thebevels 130 on the side faces of the jack rafters and cripple rafters. 0nthe opposite edge of the main frame from scale B and preferably on thesame face as said scale, there is a scale D for the adjustment of thesliding frame within the main frame, to thereby indicate the properadjustment of the rule blades 32 in order to secure the proper bevelsfor the hip and valley rafters. Disposed beyond the scale B andpreferably on the same face, though not necessarily so, and coactinfwith the lower cross rod 15, is a scale also marked in subdivisionsindicating inch rise to foot run, used for marking jack and cripplerafters where one side of the roof has a different pitch from the otherside of the roof. On the opposite edge of the main frame there isanother scale F which is to be used,` for the hip and valley rafterswhere the two sides of the roof have diiferentV pitches.

Then `a common rafter is to be cut, the square formed of the members 19and 20, is rotatably adjusted upon its pivot 14, by reference to scaleA, on the arc 22 until one limb, as for instance, the limb 19 isdisposed at the proper angle for the top cut. The other limb E20 willthen be disposed in proper position to indicate the bottom cut, as willbe obvious.` The main frame is then disposed against the edge face ofthe rafter, as indicated in Fig. 7,1 with the limb 19 disposed againstthe side face o-f the rafter and the top cut is then marked. The frameis then reversed so that the leg 20 lies across the face of the ra-fterand the frame is shifted down the rafter a `proper distance and thebottom cut marked. The bottom and top cuts will always. be at rightangles to each other.

The same operation is performed yin marking jack rafters, except that inthis case the sliding frame, formed of the members 14, 15 and 1G, andcarrying the square, is adjusted along the main frame in accordance withscale B, the end 7) of one of the members 1G being the index markcoacting with the scale. Then the sliding frame has been adjusted, oneorboth of the blades 32 is adjusted in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1,and then after the top cut has been marked, the main frame is turned atright angles to the side face of the rafter and then one of the ruleblades 32 `will extend diagonally across the edgeof the rafter, asindicated in Fig. S, and this marks the bevel edge Y given to the jackrafter. Of course, for

. half of the jack rafters, the rule blade indicated in Fig. 8 will beused. For the other half, that is for those on the other side of the hiprafter, the other blade will be used, giving a reverse angle. Of course,what is true in marking jack rafters is also true with regard to markingcripple rafters.

ln marking hip or valley rafters, the

sliding frame is set in the main frame with relationv to the hip andvalley scale D,while the square is set with relation to the hip` andvalleyscale C in Fig. 3. One limb of the square will give the top cutand the other limb the bottom cut. r1`he frame is Vthen turned in themanner indicated in Fig. `8 so as to carry one of the rules across theedge of the rafter andY a diagonal line is drawn, and then the frame isshifted So that the square is disposed against the opposite face of therafter and theother rule blade 82 is used to draw a second diagonal lineintersecting the first diagonal line on the edge .face of the rafter andthe limb of the square is used to draw. a second end out line, whichwill, of course, be directly opposite the first end cut line. Theselines will then indicate the cuts to be made in order to form the hiprafter with a double bevel end which will fit the ridge rafter and thecommon rafters intersecting the ridge rafter at the end thereof. lVhat`is true ofthe hip rafters is .also true of the valley rafters, exceptthat the scales E and F for the jack rafters and the hip and valleyrafters will be used in an obvious manner.

lt will be seen that my device is extremely convenient, that it doesaway with all necessity of calculating or with thenecessity of askilled` knowledge of the useand manipulation of the steel square orframing square, and requires only that the operator shall adjustfthedevice according to the scales, which may be readily done. It is obvious also that the device may be folded so that it will lie all in thesame plane for carriage, and it is obvious also that the frames might beformed in sections so as to be readily taken apart. y

lWhile l have illustrated a form of my invention which l have found tobe extremely practical and effect-ive, l do not wish to be limited toVthe details of the `construction illustrated, as these mightY bemodified in many ways without udeparting from Vthe spirit oftheinvention. i

I claim 1. An instrument of the character described comprising arelatively ilat base adapted to be applied4 against the edge face of arafter, a square having two limbsfat right angles pivotally mounted uponthe base at the intersection of the limbs for movement in a plane atright angles to the plane of the base, and means for holding the limbsin rectangular' relation and holding the square with aflimb atI anydesired angle with relation to the plane of the base.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising a rectangularframe having side members and end members and adapted lto be disposedj;against the edge face of 'a rafter, a square lhaving two legs disposedat an angle to eachl other' and pivotallyvmounted in said frame,thefpivotal axis of the legs being disposed in the plane ofthef-ram'eandj extending through the square at the intersection of thd-legs, anvarcuate member connecting said' legs, and a cross` bar on the frameover which 'said `arcuate member passes and .having means whereby thearcuate member may Vbe clamped andthe square held at any desired angularrelation to the main frame.

v3. An instrument of the character deL scribed comprising a rectangularframe having side members and end members and adapted to be disposedagainst the edge face of a rafter,- a square having two legs dis posedatan angle to each other, and pivotally mounted in said frame, theVpivotal axis "of the legs being disposed ini` the plane ofthe frame andextending through the square. at Vthe intersection of the legs, an'arcuate f member connecting the legs and longitudinally slotted, atransverse member mounted-on the frame ,andV having a clamping boltpassing through said slot, fand a' clamping nut engaging thebolt, thearcuate member at one side'ofthe slot being provided with a scale bywhich the VVarcuate member may be adjusted.

4. An. instrument of the; character described comprising aV rectangularframe Ahaving end members and side members and adapted to be appliedagainst the'edge face 'of a rafter, a cross rod carried by said frame, asquare having two limbs at right ang-les pivotally mounted at theintersection olf t'he limbs upon said rod, an arcuate member connectingsaid legs' and holding them at "right angles, a cross bar on the fra-me,a clamping bolt and nut on the cross bar operatively engaging saidarcuate member Tto n hold the square in any adjusted position, thearcuate 'member having-a scale indicating inch rise to foot run of aroof whereby saidsquare 'may be set with reference to the Yplane Vof theyframe to indicate the top andV bottom cuts yof rafters. .y Y

5. Ajn instrument of/ theV character' described comprising a rectangularframe adapted to be applied against the edge face of arafter, a squarehaving two limbs disposed at right anglesi to each' other, the Vsquarebeing adjustable upon and longitudinally with. relation to the mainframe and being pivoted to swing into angular relation to the planeofthe main frame, and

Y a rule blade pivotally and slidably mounted at onev corner ofthe frameadjacent the intersection ofthe limbsof the square and being therebyadjustable lengthwise of itself and "angularly adjustable with relationtov the main frame and in a plane parallel theretoto bring one corner incoincidence with the apex v4`of the square at the pivotal point thereof.Y

I '6. An instrument .of the character de-v scribed comprlsmg ayrectangular frame mounted upon the main fram-e and includl ving twocross rods, oneof said rods passing through the square ati-theintersection Vof its vlimbs andi form-ingy a pivot for the square, anarcuate member connectingthe limbs of the square, a clamping member onthe second vnainedl rod yengaging 'said arcuate member, the arcuatemember being formed with a scale indicating inch rise to foot run of aroof rafter, one side of the frame being formed with a! scale by whichthe sliding frame Vis longitudinal-ly adjusted upon the main frame andindicating inch rise to foot run, and a rule blade pivotally andslidably mounted at one corner of the frame'adjacent the rod upon whichthe 'square is pivota-lly supported, said rule blade being therebyadjustable longitudinally of itself and angularly with relation to themain frame to bringone corner in coincidence with the apex' ofthe squareat the pivotal point thereof.

'7'. An instrument of the character described comprising a rectangularframe Vhaving end mem-bers an'dside members and adapted to be appliedagainst the edge face -ofa rafter, a square having two legs at rightangles 'to each other and disposed within said frame, a sliding frameslidably mounted upon the main frame and including two cross rods, oneof said rods passing through lthe square at the intersection 'of itslimbs and forming a pivot kfor the square, an arcuate member connectingthe limbs of the square, a clamping member .on the ksecond namedrodengaging said arcuate member,

the Varcuate member vbeing formed with a l scale indicating Vinch rise`'to foot run of a roof rafter, one sidero'f the frame `being formedwith a scale by which the sliding frame is longitudinally adjusted uponthe main frame and indicating inch rise to foot run, and rule `bladespivo'tally and slidably mounted at the corners of the frame adjacent thepivotal center of the square, said rule lblades being disposed normallyin a convergent relation and'eachV being adjustable longitudinally ofitself and angularly 'with relation to the main frame to bring theirextremities in coincidence with the apexV of the square at the pivotalpoint thereof.. Y

-f A8. An instrument Aof the character described comprising arectangular frame having side members and end members, a sliding frameslidably mounted upon the main frame and including two cross rods, asquare having two limbs at right angles to each ether and pivoted at theintersection of the limbs upon one of said rods, an arcuate memberattached to the limbs of the square and coacting with the other of saidrods, a clamp upon said last named rod adapted to engage said arcuatemember to hold the squareadjusted in any desired position, rule bladespivotally and slidably mounted at the corners of the main :trameadjacent the pivotal axis of the square whereby the rule blades may belongitudinally and angularly adjusted to bring their extremities incoincidence with the apex of the square at the pivotal point thereof,and means for holding the sliding frame adjusted in the main frame andthe rule blades adjusted with relation to the sliding frame and main`frame, the arcuate member being provided on its face with a commonrafter scale and a hip and valley scale whereby the square may beangularly adjusted with reference to the plane of the main frame, saidmembers of the main frame being provided with a jack and cripple rafterbevel scale and with a hip and valley bevel scale whereby the slidingframe may be adjusted.

9. An instrument of the character described comprising a rectangularmain frame formed of two pairs of side members, each side member beingangular in form, transverse members detachably connected to the sidemembers and having their ends disposed between each pair of sidemembers, a sliding frame comprisingside members sliding between the sidemembers of the main .frame and longitudinally slotted, cross rodsconnecting said side members of the sliding "frame, clamping boltspassing l throughthe side members of the main frame and through theslots of the side members of the sliding frame, a square having twolimbs hinged to each other, a longitudinally slotted, arcuate membernormally attached to said limbs and holding the limbs in rectangularrelation, one of said cross rods passing through the. square at theintersection of said limbs and the other cross rod coacting with thearcuate member, the bolt on said last named cross rod extending throughthe slot of the arcuate member, a clamping nut on the bolt, andlongitudinally slidable, pivotally mounted rule blades disposed at thecorners of the main frame adjacent the apex of the square and havingtheir inner ends beveled to form points, said rule blades beingadjustable to bring their points into coincidence with the apeX of thesquare at the pivotal. point thereof, the arcuate member being providedwith a common rafter pitch scale, and a hip and valley pitch scale, andthe main frame being provided with a jack and cripple rafter bevel scaleand a hip and valley bevel scale with relation to which the slidingframe is adjusted. i

l0. An instrument of the character described comprising a relativelyflat base adapted to be applied against the edge face of a raiter, and amarking instrument having two limbs disposed in divergent relation toeach other and being pivotally meunted atthe intersection ofy its limbsupon the base for bodily movement in a plane at right angles'tothekplane of the base, said limbs being connected by an arcuate mem berhaving graduations whereby the angular adjustment of the instrumentrelative to the base may be determined.

ll. An instrument of the character described comprising a fiat baseadapted to be applied against the edge face of a rafter, a sliding framemounted uponthe base Jfor sliding movement on the base in the kplanethereof, and a marking blade swingingly mounted upon said sliding memberfor movement in a plane at right angles to the plane oi the base andsliding member and for adjustment into different angular relations tothe plane of the base.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

WARNER A. WINN. i

Vitnesses: Y

FREDERIC B. WRIGHT, ROBERT A. BoswnLL.

